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The boy doesn’t sit on his lap.

He stands beside him instead, holding the dinosaur while I take the picture.

Maverick doesn’t care. Neither does anyone else. When they’re finished, the little boy runs back to his mother. She catches him.

Then she looks at Maverick. “Thank you.”

Two words. But there’s something underneath them.

Maverick hears it too. His expression softens. “You’re welcome.”

She takes her son’s hand and walks away.

I love him. God, I love him.

“Mommy.”

I glance down automatically.

“What, baby?”

Shiloh holds out the clipboard.

“The Parkers are next.”

I take it from him.

“Okay.”

Then I stop.

Shiloh has already turned away.

“Shiloh?”

He looks back. “What?”

I stare at him.

His little brow wrinkles. “What?”

“You called me Mommy.”

He blinks.

Behind him, Maverick goes completely still.

“Oh.” Shiloh shrugs. “Yeah.”

Yeah.

Like he didn’t just reach into my chest and squeeze my heart.

“Is that okay?” he asks.

My eyes immediately fill.

Apparently I haven’t improved at this in the last year.